title: Pineal epidermoid tumors: report of five cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyse the clinical, radiological features and surgical outcome of pineal epidermoid tumors treated at a single neurosurgical department.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed surgery on five patients with pineal region epidermoid tumors at a single neurosurgical department between the years 1998 and 2006. Headache, diplopia and ataxia were the most common presenting findings. Parinaud's syndrome was found in three patients. Hydrocephalus was demonstrated radiologically in two patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two patients were operated on with the occipital-transtentorial approach, two were operated on with the infratentorial-supracerebellar approach and one was operated on with van Wagenen's approach. Recurrence of tumor was observed in one patient. One patient died at the first postoperative month due to ventriculitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Total removal of epidermoid tumors may provide good clinical recovery and may reduce the possibility of tumor recurrence and shunt placement.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health Okmeydani Education&Research Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dinc
authors.forename: Ahmet Celal
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Iplikcioglu
authors.forename: Erdinc
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ozek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D058565:Cerebral Ventriculitis / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D023261:Glasgow Outcome Scale; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D015835:Ocular Motility Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D010871:Pinealoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D017287:Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt